Vaporizer

ABSTRACT

Vaporizers are provided. A representative vaporizer includes a power source; a grinder unit that is electrically coupled to the power source and grinds a substance; a vaporizing unit that is electrically coupled to the power source and configured to vaporize the grinded substance; and a housing that houses the power source, grinder unit, and vaporizing unit.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application entitled, “VAPORIZER,” having Ser. No. 61/863,872, filed on Aug. 8, 2013, all of which are entirely incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is generally related to vaporizer and, more particularly, is related to systems and methods for grinding and vaporizing substance.

BACKGROUND

Vaporizers are becoming more popular for various reasons. One reason is that vaporizers produce less carcinogens than regular cigarettes. This is especially beneficial to patients who use cannabis for medical reasons.

Desirable in the art is an improved vaporizer that would improve upon the conventional vaporizer.

SUMMARY

Vaporizers are provided. Vaporizers are provided. A representative vaporizer includes a power source; a grinder unit that is electrically coupled to the power source and grinds a substance; a vaporizing unit that is electrically coupled to the power source and configured to vaporize the grinded substance; and a housing that houses the power source, grinder unit, and vaporizing unit.

Other systems, devices, methods, features of the invention will be or will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such systems, devices, methods, features be included within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, the reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. While several embodiments are described in connection with these drawings, there is no intent to limit the disclosure to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed herein. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vaporizer in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded pre-assembly view of a vaporizer having an integrated grinder unit in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an assembled vaporizer having an integrated grinder unit in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary vaporizers are first discussed with reference to the figures. Although these vaporizers are described in detail, they are provided for purposes of illustration only and various modifications are feasible.

This description has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments discussed, however, were chosen to illustrate the principles of the disclosure, and its practical application. The disclosure is thus intended to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to use the disclosure, in various embodiments and with various modifications, as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variation are within the scope of this disclosure, as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly and legally entitled.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vaporizer 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The vaporizer 100 can include a power source 210, a grinder unit 205, a vaporizing unit 115, and a control unit 105 (e.g., a controller, a FPGA, macroprocessor, microprocessor, etc.), all of which can be housed in a housing 120. The grinder unit 205 is electrically coupled to the power source 210 and grinds a substance 130 that can be placed through an opening 125 of the vaporizer 100. The vaporizing unit 115 is electrically coupled to the power source 210 and configured to vaporize the grinded substance 130.

The control unit 105 is electrically coupled to the power source 210, grinder unit 205, and vaporizing unit 115. The control unit 105 connects and disconnects power from the power source 210 to the grinder unit 205 and vaporizing unit 115, and controls the operations of the vaporizing unit 115 and the grinder unit 205. The vaporizer 100 includes a switch 110 that is coupled to the control unit 105 to enable a user to control the operations of the control unit 105.

FIG. 2 is an exploded pre-assembly view of a vaporizer 100 having an integrated grinder unit 205 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The grinder unit 205 includes a motor 215 that is attached to a gear assembly 220. A threaded shaft 225 is mechanically coupled to the gear assembly 220 at a proximal end of the threaded shaft 225. The threaded shaft 225 is placed through an insulated bowl housing 230, a screen 235, and a bearing 240. At a distal end of the threaded shaft 225, it is attached to rotating grinding teeth 245 by way of threads on the external surface of the shaft 225 and in the bore of the rotating grinding teeth 245. A bowl structure 250 receives the rotating grinding teeth 245 therein at the bottom surface of the bowl structure 250. A bowl lid 255 covers the top of the bowl structure 250 and a seal 260 seals the bowl lid 255 to the bowl structure 250. A power source 210, e.g., batteries, can power the motor 215.

The airflow within the vaporizer 100 is shown by way of dotted line arrows 265 indicating air is provided through an inlet opening 260 at the bottom wall of the insulated bowl housing 230. The air travels to the main bowl structure 250 having heating element 320 (FIG. 3) that heats up the main bowl structure 250 and the air 265, thereby vaporizing the grinded substance. The vaporized substance travels upward through the bowl lid 255 and out an outlet opening 135 (FIG. 1) for a user to inhale the vaporized substance.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an assembled vaporizer 200 having an integrated grinder unit 205 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The threaded shaft 225 is driven by the mother 215 (FIG. 2), which in turn drives the rotating grinding teeth 245 inside the vaporization chamber 250. The bearing 240 facilitates rotating of the grinding teeth 245 while keeping the insulated bowl housing 230 and bowl structure 250 stationary. The insulated bowl housing 230 has slots, which are engaged by extensions of the bowl structure 250 to form an anti-rotation feature 315. The bowl lid 255 includes slots that can be engaged by a part of an outer housing (not shown) of the vaporizer 200. The bowl structure 250 and the bowl lid 255 include stationary teeth 310 and stationary grinding surfaces 305, respectively, which function in conjunction with the rotating grinding teeth 245 to grind the substance inside the bowl structure 250.

The airflow 265 is provided through an inlet opening 260 at the bottom wall of the insulated bowl housing 230. The air travels to the main bowl structure 250 having heating element 320 that heats up the main bowl structure 250 and the air 265, thereby vaporizing the grinded substance. The vaporized substance travels upward through the bowl lid 255 and out an outlet opening 135 (FIG. 1) for a user to inhale the vaporized substance.

In general, the vaporizer 200 integrates motor driven grinding teeth 245 at the vaporization chamber 0. Herbs (not shown) can be placed into the vaporization chamber 250 in their natural state (not grinded). The vaporizer 200 can grind the substance from within the vaporization chamber 250 ensuring all particles (big and small) stay within the vaporization chamber 250. This method bypasses the usual step of transferring ground herb from grinder to vaporization unit where loss of particles can occur. By integrating the grinder into the vaporization chamber no herbal material is lost from its natural state. Heating elements 320 can be activated during, after or before grinding as the systems are independent of each other.

This description has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments discussed, however, were chosen to illustrate the principles of the disclosure, and its practical application. The disclosure is thus intended to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to use the disclosure, in various embodiments and with various modifications, as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variation are within the scope of this disclosure, as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly and legally entitled. 

Therefore, having thus described the disclosure, at least the following is claimed:
 1. A vaporizer comprising: a power source; a grinder unit that is electrically coupled to the power source and grinds a substance; a vaporizing unit that is electrically coupled to the power source and configured to vaporize the grinded substance; and a housing that houses the power source, grinder unit, and vaporizing unit.
 2. The vaporizer as defined in claim 1, further comprising a control unit that connects and disconnects power from the power source to the grinder unit and vaporizing unit.
 3. The vaporizer as defined in claim 1, further comprising a control unit that controls the operations of the vaporizing unit and the grinder unit.
 4. The vaporizer as defined in claim 2, further comprising a switch that is coupled to the control unit to enable a user to control the control unit that connects and disconnects power from the power source to the motor and vaporizing unit.
 5. The vaporizer as defined in claim 3, further comprising a switch that is coupled to the control unit to enable a user to control the control unit that controls the operations of the vaporizing unit and the grinder unit.
 6. The vaporizer as defined in claim 1, wherein the grinder unit further comprises a motor that is electrically coupled to the power source that powers the motor.
 7. The vaporizer as defined in claim 6, wherein the grinder unit further comprises rotating grinding teeth that are coupled to the motor and grinds the substance; wherein the vaporizing unit receives the rotating grinding teeth therein.
 8. The vaporizer as defined in claim 7, wherein the grinder unit further comprises a bowl lid that covers the top of the vaporizing unit.
 9. The vaporizer as defined in claim 8, wherein the bowl lid includes stationary teeth that function in conjunction with the rotating grinding teeth to grind the substance inside the bowl structure.
 10. The vaporizer as defined in claim 1, the vaporizing unit includes: a heating element that is electrically coupled to the power source; and a bowl structure that is coupled to the heating element and is configured to vaporize the substance that is placed within the bowl structure.
 11. A vaporizer comprising: a power source; a grinder unit that is electrically coupled to the power source and grinds a substance; a vaporizing unit that is electrically coupled to the power source and configured to vaporize the grinded substance; a housing that houses the power source, grinder unit, and vaporizing unit; and a control unit that connects and disconnects power from the power source to the grinder unit and vaporizing unit.
 12. The vaporizer as defined in claim 11, further comprising a control unit that controls the operations of the vaporizing unit and the grinder unit.
 13. The vaporizer as defined in claim 11, further comprising a switch that is coupled to the control unit to enable a user to control the control unit that connects and disconnects power from the power source to the motor and vaporizing unit.
 14. The vaporizer as defined in claim 12, further comprising a switch that is coupled to the control unit to enable a user to control the control unit that controls the operations of the vaporizing unit and the grinder unit.
 15. The vaporizer as defined in claim 11, wherein the grinder unit further comprises a motor that is electrically coupled to the power source that powers the motor.
 16. The vaporizer as defined in claim 15, wherein the grinder unit further comprises rotating grinding teeth that are coupled to the motor and grinds the substance; wherein the vaporizing unit receives the rotating grinding teeth therein.
 17. The vaporizer as defined in claim 16, wherein the grinder unit further comprises a bowl lid that covers the top of the vaporizing unit.
 18. The vaporizer as defined in claim 17, wherein the bowl lid includes stationary teeth that function in conjunction with the rotating grinding teeth to grind the substance inside the bowl structure.
 19. The vaporizer as defined in claim 11, the vaporizing unit includes: a heating element that is electrically coupled to the power source; and a bowl structure that is coupled to the heating element and is configured to vaporize the substance that is placed within the bowl structure.
 20. A vaporizer comprising: a power source; a grinder unit that is electrically coupled to the power source and grinds a substance, wherein the grinder unit includes: a motor that is electrically coupled to the power source that powers the motor, rotating grinding teeth that are coupled to the motor and grinds the substance; wherein the vaporizing unit receives the rotating grinding teeth therein, and a bowl lid that covers the top of the vaporizing unit; a vaporizing unit that is electrically coupled to the power source and configured to vaporize the grinded substance; and a housing that houses the power source, grinder unit, and vaporizing unit. 